Mail-box.



J. W. ALLEN.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.9, 1-916.

123K739, PatentedAug. 21,1917.

Witnesses v 4 SATES MAIL-BOX.

T0 allwhomz't may concern:

Be it'known that 1, JOHN W. ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Visalia, in the county of Tulare and State of California, have invented a new and useful Mail-Box, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail boxes particularly designed for use along rural delivery routes, although it is to be understood thatthe same can be employed wherever desired.

One of the'objects of the invention is to provide a simple form of box which will fully protect the contents thereof from rain and snow and which automatically closes after mail has been placed therein or removed therefrom.

A further object is to provide a box which is cheap tomanufacture and can be easily set up for use, the same being simple, durable and efiicient.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood thatchangesin .the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made A within the scope of what is claimed, with out departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of the mail box.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, a portion being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 Fig. 2.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a top strip forming the upper portion of a bracket and designed to be secured to a post 2 or other suitable support. An angular strip 3 is secured to this top strip and arranged thereunder and forms the lower portion of the bracket. Arranged between the strips 1 and 3 is a cylindrical container 4: having a conical top 5 and a flat bottom 6. An elongated bearing stud 7 extends downward from the center of the bottom of the container and is slidably and revolubly mounted within the strip 3 of the bracket. A bearing member 8 is slidably and revolubly mounted within the top strip 1 and is fixedly connected to Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug, 21, 1917; Application filed August 9, 1916. Serial No. 114,031. I r

the top 5. This bearing member has a radial arm 91 at its upper end which is normally supported above and close to the strip 1 and preferably carries an anti-friction roller 10.; Extending from the free end portion of the strip 1 is a lifting arm 11 which is concentric with the bearing'members 8 and is inclined upwardly toward its free end, it being preferably formed with a terminal stop 12. This arm 11 is so located that when the receptacle or containers: is rotated the roller 10 will travel along the arm 11 and thus cause the container to be lifted out of its normal position.

Secured tothe wall of the container close to the lower edge of an opening 13 therein is a guide strip 14 the upper or free longitudinal edge of which is spaced from the wall of thecont-ainer to provide a guideway 15 as indicated particularly in Fig. 3. This guide strip 14 may bejmade integral with the inneredge of a plate 16 forming a shelf extending outwardly from the container and at one end of this shelf is provided an outstanding wing 17 which extends along one of the side edges of the opening, 13 to the top thereof. 7 f

Fixedly connected to the strip 13 close to the support 2 isan arcuate closure 18. This closure is disposed with its greater portion concentric with and close to the wall of the container 4:, and when the roller 10 is located in its normal position at thebottom of the inclined arm 11, the wing 17 will engage the free end of the closure 18, while a portion of the lower edge of the closure will be seated in the space 15. When it is desired to place articles within or remove them from the container, the wing 17 is cause the container to rotate and at the same time the roller 10 will travel along the arm 11, thereby raising the container out of its normal position. As the closure 18 is sta tionary, this movement will result in the exposure of the opening 13. Consequently articles can be placed in or removed from the container and as soon as the wing 17 is released, the container will gravitate to its normal position, roller 10 at this time traveling down along the arm 11 so that during the gravitation of the container the same will be rotated to bring the wing 17 against the end of the closure 18. Consequently the container will be automatically closed when released.

I shifted toward the left in Fig. 1. This will 7 What is claimed is 1. A mail box including a revoluble and vertically slidable container, an @Pfiftllre the Wall thereof, a fixed closure having a portion thereof concentric With the Wall of the container, a support, and cooperating means upon the support and container for lifting the container during the rotation thereof out of normal position.

A mai bo in ud ng a upp t, a revoluble container carried thereby and slidable vertically, said container having a peripheral opening, a closure fixedly connected to th t rret nd havin a ra th re f concentric with the container and normally closing the opening, a guide member upon thecontaineriand slidably engaging the support, and cooperating means upon the support and the container for automatically elevating the container when rotated out of normal position.

3-.Ama qx n lu n a upp t oluble container carried thereby and slidable vertica lly, said container having a pep e a p ning a cl u fix ly ne ed to the supportand having a portion there- ,of concentric With the container and norma ly lo i g th s e n a guide member upon the container and slidably engaging the support, cooperating means upon the supportand the container for automatically elevating the container when rotated out of ,n ma p si i n a he .m' a fline" f m the guiding means, means ,carried by the shelf and cooperat ng With the closure for limiting the movement of the container when rough o nerm P S Q 4. A mail box and the like, including a support, a cylindrical container mounted for rotation therein and slidable vertically,said container having a peripheral opening, a guide upon the container and adjacent the opening, a fixed closure having a portion concentric With the container and slidably engaging the guide, an arcuate lifting arm carried by the support, means revoluble With the container and movable along said arm for elevating the container during the rotation thereof'out of normal position.

5. A mailbox and the like, including a support, a cylindrical container mounted for rotation therein and slidable vertically, said container having a peripheral opening, a guide upon the container and adjacent the opening, a fixed closure having a portion cencentric With the container and slidably engagingthe guide, an arcuate lifting arm carried by the support, means revoluble with the container and movable along said arm for elevating the container during the rotation thereof out of normal position, a shelf outstanding from the guide and adjacent the bottom or the opening, means carried by the shelf and cooperating with the closure for limiting the movement of the container to its normal position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN W. ALLEN.

I Witnesses:

Gno. R. Pnnsirrncn,

pet tes 9f this patent may ]oe ottaipca for' five cents each,-by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

